Monthly Archives: November 2009

I had a crazy Idea tonight. I thought it would be a great idea to go to Toys R Us – at midnight – with the rest of the metroplex. Yeah, after the freeway being backed up (at 11:30 at night) and seeing the line of people stretching in front of the store, to the street, down the street, and into the neighboring store parking lot, I reconsidered.

Bed sounds a whole lot better than battling a thousand crazy people for a $5 Barbie doll. So, it’s off to sleep for me. After all, I have to get up in three hours to battle different people at Wal-Mart for the same $5 Barbie!

Life is in an interesting thing. We get up each morning, brush our teeth and try to be better people. Sometimes, we make good decisions and pat ourselves on the back. Other times we make bad decisions and have to shake our head at our inability to figure out exactly what it is we’re doing. And sometimes, we have no idea what we’re doing and just pray that everything is going to even out in the end. I think I may spend most of my life in the last category.

A few months back, I basically shut down my blog. I still wrote, and my family and a few far-away friends still read it, but for all intents and purposes, it was gone. Then, I magically switched over to a new blog, and I intentionally didn’t password protect it. In the October Ensign (the magazine for LDS adults), there was a whole article about blogging as tool to help others understand what it is that we as a church and family believe. Jon and I discussed it and decided that we needed to make our blog public again.

I’ll be honest. I’m not sure one random blog will make a difference. But, we never know who is watching, and if one thing of the multitudes that I write can be of benefit, hopefully it will be worth it. It kinda scares me. I had pretty specific reasons for shutting down my blog, and they still exist. Frankly, I’m still worried that I’ll offend someone and do more harm than good. So, if I do, forgive me and realize that I really have no idea what I’m really doing! 🙂 Welcome back!

Just a little video of Kelsey we took this morning! I love hearing her sing – so I had to get this on record! Plus, I think she carries a tune better than me . . . although that’s not saying much! Make sure you watch to the end to hear about one of Kelsey’s favorite songs!

Last week in the middle of the kids laundry, I noticed a strange noise coming from the laundry room. Upon investigation, I discovered a tantalizing burning smell and the metallic whirring of a washer that was not moving. Great. Our year & 4 month old washer was broken.

Jon looked up stuff on the internet to see if he could fix it. He couldn’t.

So, we called a repair guy who didn’t show up. Since we’re gluttons for punishment, we rescheduled him. Two days of waiting from 1-5 is better than one day, right?

Enter, the wash whisperer – my bro-in-law BJ. BJ is super-duper handy, and thought he could fix it. So, after his long day of work and school, he came over.

Step 1: Remove cover of washer. This is where Jon got stuck. 🙂

Step 2: Replace some part. Don’t ask me what. It’s way too technical.

Step 3: Put washer almost all the way back together and check to see if it’s working. It’s not.

Editor’s note: This was written forever ago (October 13th to be exact). Just waiting for the pics off Jon’s phone . . .

Last night. . . . new Cowboys stadium . . . Bono . . . Edge . . . the other two guys from U2 whose names I can’t remember . . . singing “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” with Bono and 80,000 other people . . . learning new dance moves from the crazy lady in front of us with jazz hands . . . the awesome spaceship . . . the even more awesome screen . . . being politically educated about Burma, AIDS in South Africa & the war in Ireland . . . listening to Jon belt out “Elevation” at the top of his lungs . . .

Most of the reason that I have dropped off the face of the blogosphere can be summed up with three little letters – P.T.A. I know I wrote earlier that I had been sucked in, but I have REALLY been sucked in. Apparently in the real world, things don’t work like they do in the church. Who knew? I am working with some awesome women, but there are unfortunately too few to go around. So, I spent a big chunk of last month helping get the Fall Festival organized for our school.

And it was great. I didn’t take any pictures because I was way too busy. We had beautiful weather and the kids all had a great time. Heck, I even got a nice tan out of the deal.

The one downside to the day happened on our last game. See, they had a game where the kids had to throw balls into glass jars full of water. If you got a ball in the very center bowl, the kids got a fish. No way that’s going to happen, right?

Yeah, meet Anakin whom Adam won (much to my dismay!)

I have to be honest and admit that I was kinda hoping he would die so we didn’t have another animal to take care of. But, it didn’t happen. So, we now have another pet that I have to nag my children to feed every morning and night. Joy. At least it wasn’t hamsters or turtles or frogs or snakes.

So, the moral of this story is:

1 – If you are ever in charge of a Fall Festival – don’t give away fish! I’m pretty sure most of the fish probably ended up dead, and that just seems cruel. Plus, I bet most of the moms weren’t too happy!

2 -If your fall festival has a fish game, NEVER EVER EVER let your kids play it. Cause they will win, and then you’ll be stuck with a fish! 🙂

Editors note: I wrote this blog several days ago, but was waiting to post until I had a picture to accompany the post. In the interim, Anakin has passed silently into the great fishy beyond. I haven’t told the kids yet. Hopefully they aren’t too upset. 😦

A few months ago, Mom informed me that we needed to take a trip to Sea World. Never one to say no to Shamu, we planned a trip. Several weeks ago, Jon and I set off with our 4 kids plus our nephew, Braden. We left Friday afternoon, spent the night, went to Sea World on Saturday, crashed, went to church on Sunday and came home. Can you say exhausted? But, we had a great time! No matter how often we go, I am still just fascinated by Sea World!

Here’s the group getting ready for the 1st show – Viva!

And chilling in the penguin house while the braver souls rode the Steel Eel.

We all rode the log ride, although some of the little ones didn’t like it all that much!

Jon, as always, had to wear his Dallas Mavs t-shirt . . . just to see what comments he’s gonna get in Spurs land.

Since it was October, they were having their annual “Howl-o-Scream” celebration. That meant they decorated the park, had roving pirates in the kids area, had a really lame “Under the Sea” attraction (basically people dressed in sea costumes standing around a forest area), had the rockin’ Shamu show at night, and this year, trick-or-treating! Look how excited Kelsey is to be standing next to the pumpkin!

All in all, it was a fabulous . . . and did I mention exhausting? . . . day!